Introducing MPA's 2017-2018 Post-Doctoral Institute on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Across the Lifespan

The Maryland Psychological Association/Foundation Post-Doctoral Institutes (PDI) were created to provide focused training in specific clinical skills for psychologists and other post-graduate mental health professionals. Prior PDI's have focused on Forensic Psychology, Couples in Conflict, Personality Disorders, Clinical Hypnosis, Child Psychology, Trauma, and Marital Therapy. The Post-Doctoral Institute on ADHD provides an opportunity for clinicians to obtain in-depth continuing education regarding the diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of ADHD across the lifespan. PDI fellows also benefit from the opportunity to participate in small group discussions and case presentations highlighting relevant topics with the training coordinator, Dr. Carol Ann Robbins, Ph.D., and with each of our faculty presenters. This PDI spans 13 months (October 2017 through November 2018) and therefore allows the clinician to acquire knowledge and applicable strategies in a long-term framework. A special Post-Doctoral certificate of completion will be awarded to those licensed psychologists who are enrolled and complete the total PDI. CE certificates will be awarded following each workshop for the number of credit hours earned in that workshop (total of 24 hours). Those enrolled in the complete post-doctoral institute will also receive CE certificates for the small group discussion seminars (an additional 9 hours).

Overview of the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder PDI

The Board of Educational Affairs of the Maryland Psychological Association is offering a 2017-2018 Postdoctoral Institute (PDI) on the topic of ADHD across the lifespan - diagnosing, assessing, and treating it. This is a particularly important topic due to the increased recognition of the various presentations and trajectories of ADHD from early childhood through the retirement years. In this PDI, we will cover current theoretical formulations, research findings, and clinical applications (including attention to their evidence-base) for treating and assessing children, young adults, college students, adults, and couples. Course director is Carol Ann Robbins, Ph.D.

The PDI will consist of 5 three-hour workshops and 1 six-hour workshops; an introductory seminar of three hours; and 6 ninety-minute small group discussion seminars for a total of 33 hours contact time (21 workshop hours, 3 hours introductory seminar, 9 hours small group discussion seminars). The group meetings will provide for face-to-face small group discussions between registrants and the expert presenters. Topics to be covered include: Using CBT to treat children with ADHD; Learning how to implement executive functioning/organizational skills and strategies for children at home and in school; Assessment of Older Adolescents and Adults with ADHD/LD; Helping students with ADHD/LD effectively navigate college; Treating adult ADHD (failure to launch, workplace and career issues, multigenerational approach with solution-focused ADD-friendly strategies); and Treating couples with ADHD. The introductory PDI seminar will provide 1) an overview of and introduction to the PDI; 2) an overview of the neurology and key features of ADHD, and 3) a guide to making the clinical diagnosis. The ninety minute small group discussion seminars will ensure that PDI participants and faculty have sufficient time to informally discuss the material presented in the workshops, including relevant clinical cases. The groups will address how to specifically implement theoretical, research, and clinical knowledge into practice. We will foster a supportive and encouraging atmosphere within the small discussion groups so that participants can readily discuss how they are doing implementing knowledge from the PDI into their practices.

Specific Objectives

• To discuss the impact of ADHD across the lifespan - on children, adolescents, young adults, adults, and older adults;
• To explain the underlying neurology and characteristics of ADHD and to list the key areas of dysfunction;
• To describe and use effective CBT techniques to treat children with ADHD;
• To compile evidence-based strategies for managing organizational challenges and for teaching executive functioning skills to children with ADHD;
• To comprehensively assess young adults with ADHD/LD;
• To effectively guide students to successfully manage their ADHD/LD in college;
• To discuss challenges faced by ADD-affected couples and to use effective treatment techniques to treat them;
• To apply solution-focused ADD-friendly strategies in the treatment of individuals with ADHD.

PDI Coordinator

Carol Ann Robbins, Ph.D. is a psychologist in private practice specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD across the lifespan. She works closely with Dr. Kathleen Nadeau, an internationally known expert on ADHD, at the Chesapeake ADHD Center of Maryland and is also the Clinical Director of the Annapolis ADHD Center. An adjunct faculty member at Anne Arundel Community College, she teaches other mental health professionals about diagnosing and treating ADHD in the Dept. of Continuing Education. Additionally, Dr. Robbins has served as Coordinator of the Anne Arundel County Maryland Chapter of CHADD since 2002. She has given numerous presentations on ADHD locally to schools, government agencies, APA, MPA, corporations, and organizations, and has been invited to speak at several national and international conferences. Dr. Robbins wrote the chapter on using Imago Relationship Therapy for couples with ADHD in the recent book edited by Gina Pera & Arthur Robin entitled: Adult ADHD-Focused Couple Therapy: Clinical Interventions. Routledge: NY 2016. She authored an article on ADHD and relationships published in an issue of In Session: Journal of Clinical Psychology devoted to ADHD in May 2005, and co-authored a chapter on treating adolescents and adults with ADHD/LD in Goldstein, S., Naglieri, J. A., & DeVries, M. (Eds.). (2011). Learning and Attention Disorders in Adolescence and Adulthood: Assessment and Treatment (2nd Ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. Dr. Robbins is also a licensed provider of Cogmed working memory training and a trained Imago Relationship therapist. Personally, she is married to an ADHD spouse and is raising two children with ADHD.

The Workshops

1. Introductory Seminar for ADHD PDI- October 6, 2017 3 CE
2. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Children with ADHD - November 3, 2017 3 CE
3. Treating ADHD-Affected Couples- November 3, 2017 3 CE
4. Helping Kids who are Late, Lost and Unprepared: Supporting the Development of Organizational Skills - January 26, 2018 3 CE
5. Evidence-Based Assessment of Learning Disabilities and ADHD in Older Adolescents and Adults - May 4, 2018 6 CE
6. Solution-focused, ADD-friendly Psychotherapy for the treatment of Adults with ADHD: Consolidating a Lifetime of Clinical Experience- September 28, 2018 3 CE
7. ADHD in College Students - November 30, 2018 3 CE

The Small Group Seminars

Most small group seminars will be held on the same day after the workshop has concluded.

• November 17, 2017
• December 8, 2017
• January 26, 2018
• May 4, 2018
• September, 28 2018
• November 30, 2018

FAQ's

What options do I have for paying?

You can either pay in full or sign up for the payment plan. With the payment plan your downpayment is $300 and the rest of the fee will be broken up into five even payments. A total of 6 payments will be made.

I want to sign up for the PDI and Convention. How do I do that?

When you register for the PDI, you will automatically be registered for Convention workshops #4 & #9. Lunch will be included as well the bonus workshop if you are interested.

Can I use my Dues voucher?

Vouchers for the 2017 - 2018 year will be able to be used on the installments but not the initial downpayment.

Can I attend just one or two of the workshops?

MPA will open registration to the three and six hour workshops about three months before the workshop date. The introductory workshop on 10/6/2017 and the small group sessions are for PDI participants only.